MAGNETIC COMPONENTS SPECIAL REPORT
Designing Flyback Transformer for Discontinuous Mode
L
et’s return to the question, “Why Have an Air Gap?” ini-
tially posed in the Power Design article in the December
2002 issue of Power Electronics Technology. In that article,
we found that although an air gap won’t prevent satura-
tion in true transformer applications, it does reduce the
slope of the B/H loop, reducing permeability and inductance,
and increasing the magnetizing current in the primary. We
found even a small air gap benefits discontinuous forward
designs, as the residual flux value will be nearer zero, allowing
a larger working flux density range.
Now, let’s examine one more example of the function
of an air gap in a ferrite core, while providing a better un-
derstanding of flyback transformers. Fig. 1 shows a typical
off-line flyback converter found in a low-power multiple
output application. A major advantage of this topology is
its low cost and simplicity. In multiple output applications,
the addition of a secondary winding, a single diode, and an
output capacitor is all that’s required for each additional
isolated or common output. If one output is closed-loop
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Fig. 1. Typical off-line flyback converter.
voltage stabilized, then all other outputs will be semi-stabi-
lized, (within limits of loading and voltage typically required
in many applications). A common difficulty in the design
of such converters is the so-called “transformer.” We can see
how its design requires more care and understanding than
its counterpart in the forward converter.
Design difficulties stem from the fact that flyback trans-
Power Electronics Technology April 2003
By Keith Billings, DKB Power Inc., Ontario, Canada
formers aren’t really transformers. More accurately, they’re
inductors or chokes, depending on the mode of operation.
They have additional windings called the secondaries. How-
ever, the secondary voltages aren’t related to the primary to
secondary turn’s ratio, as they would normally be with a true
transformer. Why is this?
Look again at the phasing of the windings and diodes in
Fig. 1. When Q1 is ON the input voltage is applied to the
start of the primary winding (the dot end). This is positive,
and an increasing current is flowing in the primary (the
magnetizing current). The phasing of the secondary wind-
ings and rectifier diodes is such that the secondaries aren’t
conducting during this period. Hence, the secondary wind-
ings effectively don’t exist, or at least the primary can’t “see”
them. As a result, there’s no usable transformer action during
the ON period of Q1.
When Q1 turns OFF, the magnetizing current in the pri-
mary winding immediately stops. However, the core must
now return to its previous condition of near-zero flux, and
the voltage on all windings will reverse, creating the flyback
action. This brings the secondary windings and diodes into
conduction and a decreasing (demagnetizing current) now
flows in the secondaries. In other words, the energy stored
in the magnetic field during the ON period of Q1, spills
out into the secondary during the OFF period of Q1. Once
again, during this OFF period, the primary winding is not
conducting and effectively does not exist. So, once again,
there’s no usable transformer action between primary and
secondary. However, the secondary windings do “see” each
other, because they’re all conducting at the same time. As
a result, the voltage on the controlled output defines the
voltage on all other outputs. In this respect, there’s effective
transformer action between the secondaries.
With all this in mind, we know not to try to design flyback
transformers as if they were transformers, because they don’t
work that way. What, then, is the best design approach for
them? The first step is to decide on the required mode of op-
eration—either discontinuous (complete energy transfer or
inductor type operation) or continuous (incomplete energy
transfer or choke type operation). To help with this decision,
let’s look at the waveforms of Fig. 2, on page 45.
In the discontinuous mode, the secondary current falls to
zero before the next Q1 ON period. The current waveform
is sawtooth, as shown in Figs. 2a or 2b, and the peak cur-
rent is at least twice the mean current. The disadvantage of
this mode of operation is the high peak ripple current in
42 www.powerelectronics.com
 POWER DESIGNS
this in Fig. 2c. The main advantage is reduced ripple current.
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Unfortunately, the transformer must now support a dc cur-
�� rent component. The output diodes are conducting when Q1
turns ON (presenting diode reverse recovery problems), and
� it requires more turns while there’s a right-half-plane -zero
in the transfer function. However, the advantage of much
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reduced ripple currents makes this mode more suitable for
��� higher power applications.
You can define the mode of operation by adjusting the
� � inductance. In this example, you can do this by adjusting the
size of the air gap. Low inductance leads to the discontinu-
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������������ ous mode, while large inductance leads to the continuous
��� ��� ��� conduction mode. In general, the inductance may be adjusted
by changing the turns, core material (permeability) or the
Fig. 2. (a)Discontinuous mode (boundry conditions); (b) Discontinuous size of the air gap, or a combination of these.
mode (working condition with safety margin); (c) Continuous mode
(higher power condition).
Design Example—Discontinuous Mode
the transformer windings, diodes, transistors, and caps. At this stage, the design approach is best illustrated by con-
Hence, this mode is more suitable for low power applica- sidering a specific example. Assume a discontinuous mode
tions. Advantages are no dc component in the transformer; of operation has been chosen (also known as the complete
no reverse recovery problems in the output rectifier diodes energy transfer mode) with 50 kHz operating frequency
(they’re OFF before Q1 turns ON again) less turns; and no and a power of 100W. The ON period of Q1 is to be 40%
right-half-plane-zero in the transfer function [1]. of the total period or 8 µs and the OFF period will be 12 µs.
In the continuous mode, the secondary current is greater This provides a 2 µs margin to ensure the mode remains
than zero when Q1 turns ON for the next period. You can see discontinuous. As shown in Fig. 2b, other values can be used.

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 POWER DESIGNS
This 40% conduction period occurs at
the minimum input voltage of 100Vdc
and full load. A gapped ferrite core is
used, which has a center pole area of
say 100 mm².
At 100V input and 100W power, the
time averaged primary input current
will be 1A. The mean current in Q1 and
the primary winding (P1), during the
8 µs 40% ON period is 2.5A. The peak
input current is twice the average or
5A in this example (see this waveform
in Fig. 2b).
The required primary inductance
can now be calculated using formula
L(di/dt) = V, where di = 5A, dt = 8 µs
and V = 100V. L will be 160 µH (see
equations , on page 48).
Now, the minimum primary turns
Now
can be calculated. They are defined by
the need to support the applied volt
seconds ∆B—not by the inductance!
The applied volt seconds equate to the
parameter ∆B on the B/H loop shown
in Fig. 3. This change in magnetic flux
density ∆B will be maintained irre-
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spective of the size of the air gap—it
generates within the primary winding
the back mmf required to offset the
applied volt seconds.
We’ll choose a maximum core flux
density of 0.2 Tesla to provide a good
working margin on the saturation
level of 0.35 Tesla. (Higher flux values
will increase core loss but will result
in less copper loss because less turns
are required, and conversely). The
optimum choice is where copper and
core loss are equal. This is an iterative
process, and cannot be finalized at this
stage; it must be checked in the final
design. The following formula will
yield the minimum primary turns for
the chosen parameters:
V×t
N min =
B×AAe
(See equations)
Using the chosen values in the
above formula, we find the minimum
primary turns are 40.
Similarly, the secondary turns are
defined by the need for the secondary
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46
current to fall to zero before the next
ON period of Q1. Once again, the turns
are not calculated by transformer ac-
tion, although they are a function of
the required secondary voltage (see
Figs. 2a and 2b). Fig. 2a shows the
boundary condition where the second-
ary current just falls to zero just before
the next ON period. Fig. 2b shows
a better condition with more work-
ing margin where the current falls to
zero in 10 µs, 2 µs before the next ON
period. This allows for some load and
tolerance variations but also increases
the peak current slightly.
Assume the secondary voltage is to
be 20V. The flyback period is 60% (12
µs), and the time averaged secondary
current for 100W output will be 5A.
We have chosen to make secondary
conduction period 10 µs. Hence, the
mean current during the secondary
conduction period of 10 µs is 10A,
and the peak current is 20A. In this
simplified example, we’ve not made
any allowance for diode drop and effi-
ciency loss. Note the high output ripple
current, peaking at 20A. Clearly, this
isn’t a practical design and shows why
the discontinuous mode is normally
limited to low power applications.
However, if the output voltage was to
be larger—1000V, for example (you
can do this with the flyback topol-
ogy)—then the peak current would be
only 400mA, which is fine.
The secondary inductance required
for 20V output and 10 µs conduction
period may now be calculated in the
same way as the primary inductance.
Vs is now 20V and di/dt is 2A/µs.
Evaluating, we get 10 µH (see ap-
pendix). Since the gap has already
been defined by the primary design,
we must now select the secondary
turns to get this value of inductance
in the secondary.
The primary inductance (Lp) is
160 µH for 40 turns, and inductance
ratios as N² so 10 turns will give 10
µH (see appendix). Less turns may be
used, resulting in the current dropping
to zero in a shorter flyback period,
moving more into the discontinuous
mode, increasing the peak secondary
current, and providing a wider zero
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 POWER DESIGNS
current margin. Conversely, more secondary turns may not
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allow the secondary current to reach zero during the flyback
�������� ������������ period, and the continuous mode of operation will be en-
������������������ tered. Neither the primary or secondary turns are defined
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To specify the output voltage, the control loop is closed
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�� the output voltage at the chosen value for variations in input
� ����������� voltage and reduced loading. Increasing the loading beyond
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the designed 100W moves the action into the continuous
mode. While this is possible, it complicates the design of
������� both transformer and control loop because it introduces
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������� a RHP zero into the transfer function and introduces a dc
����� component into the windings. If the control loop fails, the
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output voltage goes to a high and uncontrolled value, thus,
������ overvoltage protection is a wise precaution.
������ ��������� To optimize the design, calculate the core and copper
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������� �� loss at full load. They should be near equal for optimum
�� design. If necessary, adjust the chosen flux value and turns
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to obtain this equality. Remember: Increasing the flux will
Fig. 3. Top right quadrant of the B/H loop of the gapped core. increase core loss and decrease copper loss, since there will
be less turns.

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 POWER DESIGNS
We can now wind the transformer.
The primary is wound using a wire
gauge to fill less than 50% of the bob-
bin area to allow for insulation. The
rest of the space is used for the second-
aries. Several smaller diameter strands
may be used in parallel to reduce skin
effects.
At the moment of turn OFF of Q1,
the primary current (more correctly,
ampere turns product) must com-
mutate to the secondary. Any leakage
inductance opposes this action, and a
large voltage overshoot will be gener-
ated on the primary needing aggres-
sive snubbing action. This problem is
reduced by interleaving primary and
secondary as you would in a forward
transformer design.
When finished, the core is fitted us-
ing an elastic band to hold it together,
and the core gap adjusted to obtain
the required primary inductance of
160 µH. For a better understanding,
consider the action of the core gap in
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a somewhat different way. Energy is Primary turns
stored in the magnetic field during the V ×t
NP = P
ON period of Q1 and transferred to the B×A Ae
secondary during the OFF period of Where:
Q1. Fig. 3 shows the top right quadrant t = Q1 ON time (µs)
of the B/H loop of the gapped core, B = Peak flux density (tesla)
with the working value of flux density Ae = effective area of center pole (mm2)
swing ∆B imposed on it. The area to NP = Minimum primary turns
the left of the B/H loop is proportional Inductance factor
to the stored energy per cycle, while the L
A L = P2
much smaller area contained within NP
the B/H loop is an indication of core Where:
loss (not to scale). In general, AL = Inductance of a single turn (µH)
power = f × Ve ∫ H dB Secondary inductance LS = NS2 × AL
Where:
Equations LS = Secondary inductance (µH)
Primary Inductance NS = Secondary turns
Secondary turns
VP × ∆t LS
LP = NS =
∆I AL
Where: Primary stored/transferred energy per
LP =Primary inductance (µH) cycle j = ½ LPIP 2 (joules)
VP = Primary voltage (V) Where:
∆t = Q1 ON time (µs) IP = Peak primary current (A)
∆I = Peak primary current (A) LP = primary inductance (H)
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Transferred power P = f × (½LPIP2)= (W)
Where:
f = Frequency (Hz)
µr × N P2 × Ae
Air Gap =
LP
Where:
Air gap = (mm)
µr = 4 π × 10-7
NP = Primary turns
Ae = Pole area (mm2)
LP = Primary inductance (mH)
Increasing the Air Gap
Increasing the air gap will swing the
B/H loop more to the right, increasing
the area and hence the stored energy.
Most of the energy is stored in the air
gap because this is the lowest perme-
ability part of the magnetic path, get-
ting something-for-nothing.
The remnant flux (Br) also reduces
as the core gap increases, slightly in-
creasing the usable flux working range.
The peak primary current increases as
the inductance reduces. Since stored
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energy is proportional to Lp × Ip²,
energy still increases with the larger
gap—even though inductance falls.
Below the B/H loop is shown the
primary magnetizing current during
the ON time of Q1. In pecked form, it
shows the effective secondary demag-
netizing current as would be reflected
to the primary winding in terms of
ampere-turns. Of course, it does not
actually flow in the primary. The ac
flux swing ∆B remains constant irre-
spective of the core gap: It is a function
of applied primary volt seconds. The
peak current and stored energy are the
dependant variables set by the size of
the air gap. So now we see one more
application for the air gap.
For multiple outputs, simply sum
the total output power and use this
value in the equations when calculating
the primary and secondary inductance
of the main controlled output. The
secondary currents will sort themselves
out, depending on the loading applied
49
POWER DESIGNS
to each output.
Even while ignoring the transform-
er action, (because it’s not a design
parameter), it still exists. The flyback
voltage is reflected back to the primary
winding during the OFF period of
Q1. Hence, reducing secondary turns
increases secondary peak currents and
increases the voltage stress on Q1 dur-
ing the OFF period.
Look for the follow-up article in the
next issue of PETech. It will cover the
transformer design for the continuous
mode (or incomplete energy transfer
choke mode). PETech
Keith Billings is president of DKB Power
Inc., dkbp@rogers.com.
Reference
1. Keith Billings, “Switchmode Power
Supply Handbook,” McGraw-Hill ISBN
0-07-006719-8.
For more information on this article,
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